Ultimate Step By Step Guide For Cleaning The Silk Lampshade
The silk lampshades are quite beautiful but they also collect dust more often than not. To clean them, you need to vacuum away any of the dust and then wash them in the bathtub. This cleaning method works well for most of the fabric lampshades. The step by step guide for cleaning the silk lampshade are mentioned below:
- Unscrew The Cap: On the top of the lamp unscrew the cap and remove the shade off. Some of the shades are held in place with the help of a light bulb, so remove the bulb in order to free the shade.
- Vacuum: With the help of a brush attachment of the vacuum cleaner try vacuum up as much dust as possible from the lampshade. When vacuuming, it is important to always vacuum with the pleats if there is any. Move the vacuum in the up and down direction of the lampshade rather than around the circumference. If the lampshade has beads or any of the other accessories, then vacuum them by placing an old nylon stocking right on the vacuum cleaner hose. This trick will help to get the dirt sucked into the vacuum but without pulling the decorative trim in along with it.
- Remove Any Trim: If it is possible then remove the trim from the lampshade, like beads or contrasting braiding.
- Cleaning Solution: Prepare a cleaning solution by filling a large container or the bathtub with enough lukewarm water so that the lampshade is submerged. Put one-half scoop or a cap-full of silk laundry detergent into the water, and mix well until the suds will be formed on the surface of the water. The silk laundry detergent is designed to work with silk as well as other delicate fabrics, it will help to prevent staining, watermarks, color fading, or any other problems that can result from regular detergent. The user can also use any detergent that is designed for delicate fabrics for the same effectiveness.
- Clean White Washcloth: Take a clean white washcloth and dip it in soapy water, and try to spot clean any of the stains visible on the lampshade. Using the washcloth gently dab at the stain, absorbing as much of the stain as possible. It is advised to never rub stains as this may cause them to spread.
- Lampshade Into The Bathtub: In this step place the lampshade in the bathtub, and then gently swish it up and down and in back and forth direction to fully wet it. Leave the lampshade to sit in the soapy water for about few minutes.
- Drain The Water: After few minutes drain the water from the tub and refill it with clean water. Now, rinse the lampshade by swishing it back and forth direction gently in the water. If in case the water gets dirty, then drain the tub and repeat the rinsing process until the water is clean.
- Well-ventilated Room: Once the above step is done then keep the lampshade in a well-ventilated room which has the good circulation of air, such as a laundry room which has a fan. The user can also dry the lampshade in the outside area, but in a shaded place so that the sun will not bleach the fabric. Leave the lampshade to air dry. Don't worry if in case the lampshade seems saggy after the washing. While it dries, it will shrink back in the original firmness. In order to speed up the drying process use a hairdryer and set it on cool.
- Reattach: After the cleaning job is done the user can replace any trim that is removed from the lampshade. Place the lampshade back on the lamp and then screw the top back in its place.